“Salah is the man behind our qualification to the World Cup,” Emam said to the BBC.

“When we qualified in 1990, it was more of a team effort. This time, Salah was the leader of the whole campaign.

“Nobody in the history of Egypt has reached such a level in world football and been so successful with the national team.”

Meanwhile, Salah had a hand in all seven of the goals that took the Pharaohs to Russia, scoring five and assisting in two as coach Hector Cuper’s men returned to the tournament for the first time since 1990.

The speedy winger also continues to make waves in the English Premier League after netting a brace for the Reds as they beat Southampton 3-0 at home on Saturday.